Carding engine provided with a rotary type web stripping device

ABSTRACT

A carding engine provided with a rotary type web stripping device for stripping a web of material from a doffer cylinder having a stripping roller assembly which includes a plurality of stripping rollers having stripping combs associated therewith. A differential gear train assembly interconnects the stripping roller assembly and the stripping rollers such that the stripping rollers are rotated in a direction which is opposite to that direction in which the stripping assembly is rotated, the stripping combs of the stripping rollers being positioned adjacent the doffer cylinder so as to safely strip the web of material therefrom. As the stripping combs strip the material from the doffer cylinder, the stripping rollers are subsequently rotated by the gear assembly so as to positively release the material from the combs whereupon the material may then be conveyed to delivery rollers.

iinited States Patent [191 Ota [ CARDING ENGINE PROVIDED WITH A ROTARY TYPE WEB STRIPPING DEVICE [76] Inventor: Kiichi Ota, 5-1, I-Iinatamachi 3-chome, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, Japan [22] Filed: Dec. 8, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 313,491

Primary ExaminerDorsey Newton Attorney, Agent, or FirmOblon, Fisher, Spivak, Mc-

Clelland & Maier [11 memes 1 Feb. 26, 1974 [57] ABSTRACT A carding engine provided with a rotary type web stripping device for stripping a web of material from a doffer cylinder having a stripping roller assembly which includes a plurality of stripping rollers having stripping combs associated therewith. A differential gear train assembly interconnects the stripping roller assembly and the stripping rollers such that the stripping rollers are rotated in a direction which is opposite to that direction in which the stripping assembly is rotated, the stripping combs of the stripping rollers being positioned adjacent the doffer cylinder so as to safely strip the web of material therefrom. As the stripping combs strip the material from .the doffer cylinder, the stripping rollers are subsequently rotated by the gear assembly so as to positively release the material from the combs whereupon the material may then be conveyed to delivery rollers.

3 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field Of The Invention This invention relates generally to web stripping devices and more particularly to a carding engine provided with a rotary type web stripping device.

2. Description Of The Prior Art In conventional carding engines, an oscillating type fly comb is normally utilized to strip a web of material from a doffer cylinder, although the oscillating type. fly comb has the disadvantage that smooth stripping can only be achieved when the circumferential speed of the doffer cylinder is maintained below a pre-determined maximum value, although it is also true that this maximum circumferential speed of the doffer cylinder differs depending upon the fly comb construction.

In order to achieve higher oscillating speed, the high speed fly comb box, a fly comb having a smaller moment of inertia, and a variety of auxiliary devices, such as, for example, a web licking-up detector combined with a motion safety stop or the like, have been developed. However, the oscillating type fly comb nevertheless has the fundamental disadvantage that if the comb is operated in excess of a limited maximum oscillating speed, undesirable vibration is generated, and accordingly, the speed of the carding engine has been limited until the vibration problem is solved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a rotary type web stripping device adapted for stripping a web from a doffer cylinder of a carding engine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a rotary stripping device which is capable of rotating at high speed so as to facilitate high speed operation of the carding engine.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a rotary stripping device which is capable of safely stripping a web of material from a doffer cylinder without adversely affecting the formation of fibers within the material.

The foregoing objectives are achieved according to this invention through the provision of a rotary type stripping device having stripping rollers rotatably mounted upon a stripping roller assembly, stripping combs of the stripping rollers being capable of stripping a web of material from the doffer cylinder by a combined rotary motion of the stripping roller assembly and differential rotation of the stripping rollers and stripping combs. When thus employing rotary motion, it is well recognized that the stripping speed is dependent only upon the construction of the device which is easily designed according to mechanical engineering principles so as to be capable of attaining a desired high speed of operation. To assure the safe stripping of the material from the cylinder and the combs, the combs are retracted within the stripping roller assembly at a point which corresponds to approximately one quarter of a revolution of the assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Various other objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood from the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a cross-section view taken along a plane normal to the axis of the stripping roller assembly of a rotary stripping device having four stripping combs; and

FIG. 2 is a cross-section view of the stripping roller assembly taken along the axis of the roller assembly showing the driving mechanism 1 and its associated parts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown a web stripping device which includes a doffer cylinder 1 having associated therewith a stripping roller assembly 2 which is rotatable about its axis in the counter-clockwise direction-so as to strip a web 18 from cylinder 1. Four stripping rollers 3, 4, 5 and 6, having respective stripping combs 7, 8, 9 and 10, are rotatably mounted upon the stripping roller assembly 2 and are so arranged that the stripping combs generate a circular locus shown in FIG. 1 by means of the dotted line when the stripping roller assembly 2 rotates and in addition, the stripping combs are withdrawn into the semi-circular recesses upon the stripping roller assembly 2 as each roller is rotated away from the stripping station adjacent cylinder 1 as shown by the position of the stripping roller 4.

The stripping roller assembly 2 further includes four lip members 23 respectively associated with and serving to further define the semi-circular recesses, the lip members being disposed adjacent to the left portions, as seen in FIG. 1 of the recesses only, so as to cooperate with the stripping combs, as the same begin to withdraw into the recesses, in stripping or releasing the web 18 from the combs. It will readily be seen then that after the web 18 has been stripped from the doffer cylinder 1, as the roller assembly 2 and the stripping rollers rotate in opposite directions, the roller 4 and comb 8 associated therewith will begin to enter the semicircular recess whereby in effect, comb 8 will be receding away from the web 18. At the same time however, the lip member 23 will in effect be approaching the web 18, and as the comb 8 recedes, web material 18 will abut member 23, the combined movements of the comb 8 and member 23 relative to web 18 serving to positively release the same. from the stripping comb 8, so as to be conducted to delivery rollers 11. The web stripping device is adustably mounted upon the carding engine such that the stripping combs are positioned relative to the surface of the doffer cylinder 1, as shown by the dotted line locus, with a minimum amount of clearance, such as the position of stripping roller 3 and the stripping comb 7.

In operation, the stripping roller assembly 2 is rotated such a speed that the circumferential speed of the stripping combs 7, 8, 9 and 10 along the generated circle shown by a dotted line will be almost the same as that of the doffer cylinder 1 so as not to disturb the formation of fibers during the stripping operation. The combs are retracted within the recess at a position which corresponds to approximately one-quarter of the revolution of assembly 2 past the stripping station.

shaft 21 which is positioned at one end of the stripping roller assembly 2, the other end of the assembly being rotatably mounted upon an axially aligned stationary pin 22. A sun gear 13 is fixed to the stationary pin 22 and is engaged with an idler gear 14 which in turn engages a planetary gear 16 fixed upon a shaft 19 of the stripping roller 4, the driving mechanism thus consisting of a differential gear train assembly. The other rollers have shafts and gears similar to shaft 19 and gear 16, such as, for example, gear 17 associated with roller 6. When the number of teeth upon the gears l3, l6 and 17 are equal to each other, the stripping rollers are rotated one revolution about their respective shafts, as shown in FIG. 1, for each revolution of the stripping roller assembly 2 around the stationary pin 22, the rollers rotating in a direction opposite to that of the assembly.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. For example, the stripping angle of the stripping combs with respect to the doffer cylinder 1 may be optional depending upon the operating conditions so as to safely strip the web 18 from the doffer cylinder 1,and similarly, there is no restriction as to the dimensional relation between the diameter of the stripping roller assembly and that of the stripping rollers. Furthermore, the number of stripping rollers can be more than or less than four and in addition, an idler gear can be engaged with several adjacent planetary gears of the stripping rollers.

Likewise, the .driving mechanism for driving the stripping rollers is not limited to the differential gear train type, but a combination of pulleys, driven by timing belts, or a chain and sprocket and linkage assembly can also be utilized. It is to be understood therefore that within the scope of the appended claims, the present invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by letters patent of the United States is:

l. A carding engine provided with a rotary type web stripping device for stripping a web of material from a doffer cylinder at a stripping station, comprising;

a stripping roller assembly;

a plurality of stripping rollers respectively mounted within a plurality of recess means within said roller assembly;

a plurality of stripping combs respectively mounted upon the peripheral surfaces of said stripping rollers;

lip member means formed upon said stripping roller assembly and respectively disposed adjacent said recess means for cooperating with said stripping combs in releasing said web material therefrom; and

a differential gear train assembly interconnecting said roller assembly and said stripping rollers wherein said stripping rollers are rotated in a direction which is opposite to the direction of revolution of said stripping roller assembly and at a speed of rotation relative to that of said stripping roller assembly such that one of said stripping combs is positioned exteriorly of said recess means when said one of said stripping combs is located at said stripping station and said one of said stripping combs is withdrawn interiorly of said recess means and past said lip member means when said one of said stripping combs is located at a position beyond said stripping station,

whereby said web of material is positively released from said stripping combs after said stripping combs have stripped said material from said doffer cylinder due to the relative movement between said one of said stripping combs and said lip member means relative to said web material.

2. A carding engine as set forth in claim 1 wherein the locus of said rotating stripping combs is a circle positioned relative to said doffer cylinder such that said stripping combs are able to safely strip a web from said doffer cylinder of said carding engine without adversely affecting the formation of the fibers comprising said material.

3. A carding engine as set forth in claim 2 wherein said engine further includes means for rotating said stripping combs and said doffer cylinder such that the circumferential speed of said stripping combs along said circle is substantially equal to the circumferential speed of said doffer cylinder of said carding engine. 

1. A carding engine provided with a rotary type web stripping device for stripping a web of material from a doffer cylinder at a stripping station, comprising; a stripping roller assembly; a plurality of stripping rollers respectively mounted within a plurality of recess means within said roller assembly; a plurality of stripping combs respectively mounted upon the peripheral surfaces of said stripping rollers; lip member means formed upon said stripping roller assembly and respectively disposed adjacent said recess means for cooperating with said stripping combs in releasing said web material therefrom; and a differential gear train assembly interconnecting said roller assembly and said stripping rollers wherein said stripping rollers are rotated in a direction which is opposite to the direction of revolution of said stripping roller assembly and at a speed of rotation relative to that of said stripping roller assembly such that one of said stripping combs is positioned exteriorly of said recess means when said one of said stripping combs is located at said stripping station and said one of said stripping combs is withdrawn interiorly of said recess means and past said lip member means when said one of said stripping combs is located at a position beyond said stripping station, whereby said web of material is positively released from said stripping combs after said stripping combs have stripped said material from said doffer cylinder due to the relative movement between said one of said stripping combs and said lip member means relative to said web material.
 2. A carding engine as set forth in claim 1 wherein the locus of said rotating stripping combs is a circle positioned relative to said doffer cylinder such that said stripping combs are able to safely strip a web from said doffer cylinder of said carding engine without adversely Affecting the formation of the fibers comprising said material.
 3. A carding engine as set forth in claim 2 wherein said engine further includes means for rotating said stripping combs and said doffer cylinder such that the circumferential speed of said stripping combs along said circle is substantially equal to the circumferential speed of said doffer cylinder of said carding engine. 